ABCIf anyone knows anything about life after "death," it is ABC's Pushing Daisies.
So despite reports today in The Hollywood Reporter and Variety that it "may be on its deathbed," I can tell you that Daisies is not dead. At least not yet.
But the clock is ticking—with a loud, boisterous boom. And here's what ABC sources and executive producer Bryan Fuller tell me...
Bottom line: Pushing Daisies is not officially canceled, nor has a decision been made yet, but we have very little time to try and save it. Like one or two weeks, tops.
"We honestly don't know yet," creator Bryan Fuller says of Daisies' fate. "We've asked ABC what our future is, and the response has been wait and see, wait and see...We don't know yet, and I'm not sure they know. I think they're waiting on a few factors."
Although yesterday was the final day of production on Daisies' episode 13 (I'm told it was an emotional day on set), ABC insiders tell me that the network is waiting on one crucial determining factor: how Daisies does when it returns this coming Wednesday after being preempted for two weeks (for Dancing With the Stars and the Country Music Awards).
"We do want to see how Daisies does in the postelection viewing environment, which we have not been able to see yet," one ABC source tells me. "The next week or two will be critical."
Note: If that doesn't make you fans email everyone you know to tell them to watch Pushing Daisies this Wednesday at 8 p.m. on ABC—which, by the way, happens to be a laugh-out-loud funny and ultimately deeply moving episode (I cried) called "Oh, Oh, Oh, It's Magic"—then please see a doctor, for your heart may have turned to stone.
"I think they're going to see how we do next week," Fuller confirms. "Our numbers went up by a million viewers opposite Obama—so thank you, Republicans! (Laughs) We're hoping it will be an upward trend, and if we can do that, I think we have an argument. But if we go down, then that does not bode well. And so we need everybody to do everything they can, and tell one and all that they need to tune in next Wednesday for this episode, and hopefully we can have an argument."
You heard the man. Tell your friends (especially any with Nielsen's boxes!). Now. For the love of creative scripted programming, which appears now to be a dying breed.
It also wouldn't hurt to post a comment down below if you love this show, and send a letter of support (with or without daisies, daisy seeds, pie or a coupon for pie) to:
ABC
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4551
For now, try to keep the faith. Miracles do happen—especially in Coeur d'Coeurs.